Conte insists no problem with Abramovich visiting training ground

Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, has insisted that he has no problem with Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, visiting the training ground.

Abramovich was at Cobham earlier this week, to watch the first team train and spoke with Conte, who has lost his last two league fixtures against Liverpool and Arsenal.

In the past, the presence of the Russian billionaire, was seen as a bad omen for Chelsea managers, but Conte is not worried.

“Good communication is important, always, with all people,” Conte said.

“To be very clear on all aspects. It’s important to be very clear with your players and with your staff, with the club and with the owner.

“Also, I’m lucky because Mr Abramovich is very passionate about football. To talk with him about football is very interesting. To discuss and explain my idea of football, to have a conversation, I think that situation is very interesting.

“I like this. I repeat: in every situation it’s important to be very, very clear. If you are clear, it’s always OK.”

According to reports, Abramovich has assured Conte, that he will provide funds to spend in January to freshen up the team. But the Italian says it is important to think about the present.

“No, we must think about the present, because the present is now more important,” he said.

“January is a long way away. I don’t see an opportunity in January to spend money or change things. Now I see the present.

“I see in the present the opportunity to improve: to continue to work and understand it’s not easy. We know this in the club, and we must continue to change the story of last season. I repeat: last season it was very clear.

“I think that myself and the players, none of us have forgotten this. To use last season as an extra motivation to push more and improve.”